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In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on December 19 for a “Day of Caring.” As part of this very special holiday community event, more than 40 former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters visited with patients at children’s hospitals in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando and Phoenix.

“On behalf of the NBRPA Board of Directors, I would like to thank the Chapter Presidents and all of the members who participated in the Children's Miracle Network Legends Day of Caring,” said Board Chairman Otis Birdsong. “As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NBRPA is dedicated to giving back and serving communities – especially during the holiday season. Thank you to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, our philanthropic partner, for making this incredible day possible.”

Steve Hayes, a member of the NBRPA Board of Directors, visited Texas Children's hospital with the NBRPA Houston Chapter -- the largest group participating in the Day of Caring.

"We had a great turnout from the Houston Chapter and it was a great event to be a part of -- seeing how the members of our organization truly care and feel for these kids, their parents, and appreciation to the hospital workers for taking care of these kids," Hayes said. "We brought lots of smiles to children, their parents, and staff. The highlight of the day was Moses Malone playing the guitar while the Legends sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer to a little girl."

Click below to watch video of Moses Malone leading fellow Houston Chapter Members Robert Reid, Major Jones and Reggie Dixon in a singalong.

NBRPA Members talked about the event on Sirius/XM’s new NBA Channel and local media outlets from FOX and CBS covered the Day of Caring. Several of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals came back to the NBRPA with glowing reports about our members.

CHICAGO:The guys were SO fabulous ... kind, funny, and jumped right in to hang with the patients and families. Everyone had such a great time. We are happy to have them back any time

DETROIT:They were a hit with both patients and the staff, everyone really enjoyed themselves. Our staff remarked that this was the best visit we have had in a long time because they were so down to earth.

HOUSTON:The hospital has a very high census at this time so their visit was a wonderful distraction for the patients and their families. In the two hour time-frame, we were able to visit one inpatient floor as well as our Renal Dialysis Unit. All in all I’d say it was a great success! Hope the guys left feeling very satisfied for the time they spent at Texas Children’s bringing joy to our patients.

PHOENIX: The guys had a fantastic time and the kids had so much fun with them. They were super laid back and incredibly funny which made it a great visit. We had one mom thank them for making her son smile for the first time all day.

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) today announced that several of its chapter cities are participating in a “Day of Caring” with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on December 19, 2013. As part of this very special holiday community event, former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters will visit with patients at children’s hospitals in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando and Phoenix.

“As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the National Basketball Retired Players Association is dedicated to giving back and serving communities – especially during the holiday season,” said Otis Birdsong, a former NBA All-Star and NBRPA Chairman of the Board. “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is our philanthropic partner and our chapters and members are thrilled to join forces with this organization to visit local member children’s hospitals and meet young patients.”

Details of the NBRPA/Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Day of Caring hospital visits on December 19 are as follows (all times EASTERN):

About Children’s Miracle Network HospitalsChildren’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity's Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children's hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

The Chicago Sky named former NBA star Wayne “Tree” Rollins assistant coach, announced head coach and general manager Pokey Chatman. Rollins replaces Jeff House who will join the University of Kentucky as assistant coach of women’s basketball.

Tree brings a wealth of experience on so many different levels. Coupled with his ability to communicate and relate to players, I think he will immediately enhance our basketball organization. Simply put, he's passionate about the game, which comes as no surprise when you look at his basketball pedigree,” said Chatman.

Rollins had a successful 18-year NBA career, playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. In Rollins’ 1,156 game appearances, he averaged 2.2 blocked shots per game and received NBA All-Defensive First and Second Team honors. He currently ranks ninth all-time in career blocked shots (2,542).

"I'm looking forward to joining a staff that is well organized, hardworking and tremendous with players. I am also excited to bring my brand of basketball to the Sky as I will have the opportunity to work in all facets of the game,” said Rollins.

Along with his experience on the court, Rollins has had an extensive coaching career. He has served as assistant coach to the Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers. In 2002, he was named head coach of the NBA D-League franchise the Greenville Groove. Rollins joined the Washington Mystics as assistant coach in 2006 before being named head coach in 2007.

Basketball Fans and NBRPA Members: I am proud to announce that I have just published my first book – Too-Tall Foyle Finds His Game! It is the first of a series based on my journey to the NBA. The series targets kids aged from 3 to 8 years, and will delight young & old with beautiful pictures by Toni Pawlowsky and interesting stories highlighting important life lessons such as never give up, dream big, study hard, tolerance and much more.

I am hosting two online book launch parties on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. EST & PST. Join me as I read from the book aloud and answer your questions. The parties are free to attend, you just need to register at the following links:

Sam Vincent, the NBRPA's Director of Chapter Development, talked hoops with Ron Barr of Sports Byline USA on May 16, 2012. Vincent discussed his playing career in high school, college and the NBA, as well as his coaching career in the NBA and overseas.

Sam Vincent – Director of Chapter Development for the NBRPA and a former NBA head coach and player — talked about basketball past and present with the 2 Live Stews on March 22 as part of Throwback Thursday on 790-AM in Atlanta